Method of and apparatus for removing the residual glass from vessels containing a bath of glass.



u. L. FRINK. METHOD or 'AND APPARATUS F06 REMOVING m5 RESIDUAL GLASS momVESSELS CONTAINING A BATH 0F GLASS. APPLICATION FILED novizs, 1912;

1,165,962 Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

fllfllllllllllllllllll ZNAVENTOR mrrran srarns Parana cri ic,

ROBERT L. FRINK, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.

METHGD 61? AND AP?ARATUS FOR REMOVING RESIDUAL GLASS FROM VESSELSCQNTAINING A BATH OI? GLASS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. as, 1915.

Application filed. November 25, 1912. Serial No. 733,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT L. FRINK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of andApparatus for Removing the Residual. Glass from Vessels Containing aBath of Glass, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anovel method of and apparatus for removing theresidual glass from vessels containing a bath of glass from which glassarticles are made, it being well known to those skilled in the art thatafter an article has been made from a mass of glass contained within thevessel, there remains a portion of the cooled, or semicooled, glass uponthe surface of the mass which remains in the vessel, and, as isusually"the case, this cooled portion constitutes the major portion of.the glass which remains. It is well known that .unless this remainingportion can be substantially all eliminated from the glass-workingvessel, the fresh bath will be contaminated and the quality ofthearticle made therefrom substantially injured'by reason of theimperfections introduced into the article, due to this remainingportion, such imperfections being in the form of blisters, cords and thelike.

I find that in previous devices there are certain structural faults,operative in cili- -ciencies, or failures in part or wholly toaccomplish the end sought, and because of these I have invented andclaim a novel means for removing the residual glass. My inventionconsists of a rotating skimmer which is forced into the residual mass ofglass which is still in the receptacle vwhereby the glass is made topass through the perforations to the top of the skimmer. I furtherprovide some agentit may be the same means in part-for wrenching orpulling the skimmer and its contained glass away from the receptacle andfrom any glass which may be adherent to the sides or bottom thereof. Myobject is to take the glass practically all away so the skimmer, in theforms shown, has practically the same area as the inside of thereceptacle. The means for forcing the glass through the perforations mayvary. 1 may use atmospheric pressuresuction-or I may use some mechanicalagent.

My invention also includes a process. The perforated skimmer is colderthan the residual glass. When this glass is broken up into a number ofstreams by the skimmer, each stream is subjected to a chilling effect.It thus becomes harder than the glass left which is still fluent fromthe heated receptacle, and these streams of chilled glass though theymay either form heads or may coalesce into one mass on the top of theskimmer, are resistant and afford suitable points ofapplication for thewrenching force. My process then consists broadly in breaking the glassto be skimmed into a number of small streams, chilling them andwrenching them free.

The tool which I use is of a size to cover the greater portion of thearea from which the glassis to be withdrawn, and I may provide meanswhereby the glass'is withheld in the gathering tool by means other thanor in addition to a vacuum, as will be readily recognized by perusal ofthe following description as specification.

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of that form of device which showsfluid pressure means for forcing the glass into the skimmer; Fig. 2 aview of the bottom of the skimmer. Figs. 3 and 5 views of modifica- Theglass containing vessel A may be of any shape or character but here Iprefer to show the more intricate form as ma y be used in my process forthe making of glass cylinders, in the center of which is the air duct B,and in which the residual glass remains to a depth of perhaps one halfinch or more after the completion of a draw. The glass gathering tool,or as I call it, the glass scavenging tool or skimmer C, is lowered intovessel A after'the residual glass has been heated to a temperature ofreasonable fluidity. By means of the air duct 0. and air pump 0 I amable to produce a vacuum in the chamber of the tool as is indicated atthe points 0 and c of Fig. 1. This chamber is connected to themain airduct a by means of pipes (l, which also act as supports for the airchamber. T her is closed by a perforated plate e,this plate being heldinto contact by the hinges and'latch f and f. This lower perforated hebottom of this chamand cooling required to remove. the glass both fromits surface andperforations, and

should be made of some material whose oxid does not freely separate fromthe metal of which it is formed, I preferring to use copper or nickel,or one of the compounds of nickel and manganese, or nickel and iron,

which oxidizes but very little.

The part C is of course much cooler than the glass. It thus has achilling effect on the streams of glassinto which the residual glass isbroken when it is forced through the holes. This gives the streams asort of headthey might fuse together even on "top the skimmer, and givesthem points of application for the wrenching or pulling force which isapplied to tear these streams away from the receptacle and from theviscous layer which sticks to the pot, usually. After the residual glasshas been heated. to the proper temperature, the scavenging tool orskimmer is lowered so that its bottom surface comes into contact with and passes into the glass, and as rapidly thereafter as is possible avalve in the pipe is opened and the vacuum is formed in the chamber 0,thereby drawing up through the perforations the glass which isimmediately below it." The tool is then wrenched free, removed andcarried or swung out away from over the top of the glass containingvessel A. The latch is unfastened and the bottom drops down, therebycausing the glass to fall out into any suitable receiver.

In event any glass shall remain adhering to the tool, it is submerged inwater and rap- 95 made to contact with each other, thereby idly cooled,which causes the glass to disengage itself therefrom.

The construction of the bottom portion 6 may be of any suitable design,I using any one'of the several designs here shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5;

In Fig. 4 the holes are indicated as obliquely placed slots extendingfrom bottom to top. \Vhen the scavenging tool or skimmer is brought intocontact with the glass, it is given a turn whereby the glass is plowedor torn loose and comes to the top of. the part 6. In Fig. 5 I haveindicated the bottom of the part 0 as made of heavy wire mesh.

Fig. 6 shows another method or means which I may employ in accomplishingthe ends above sought, and which consistsof 'blades:=g, orfan-like-,members;setting at an angle, so that by-dropping thescavenging tool into the vessel and rotating same in the properdirection, the molten glass 1 will .b e forced up andinward, and thenbymeans-of -windlass Z ,and cable m .attacl1ed to-, therapper ends J ofthelevers,--these-bladesvmay-be -with"'the vupper portion of suchresidual glass; congealing such .portion so as to at ,tach the same tosaid member -;and then subjecting such attached portionito-a wrenchingaction, whereby itis separated' fromthe receptacle.

2. The method (if-remodel; asserts...

from a glass-working receptacle, which. consists in causing suchresidual glass topa'ss. in the form of small streams throughasuitablechilling member, whereby the upper portions of such streams are more or.less' congealed; and then subjecting-the glass thus passed to awrenching action, .wherebygit 'is separated from the receptacle.;; a

3. The method of 'removmg .resldu alfrom a glass-working receptacle,i.vl1iclr.con-- sists in.causing such residualrglass to'pass in the formof small streanis through-a. 1perforated member adapted'tohare chillingaction on such streams,-whereby.the:upper portions thereof are moreortlesscongald;

and then subjecting the glassthus passed-to a wrenching action, whereby-it= is separated from the-receptacle.

4. The method of removing-residual. glass ice from a glass-workingreceptacle which con-1:

sists in lowering a suitableiperforatedgmember-into said receptacle so:as toicauseU-such residual glass to.pass througlrtheisamer-in the formofsmall streamsasaid member being adapted to have a chillingactionaon-such :f

streams, whereby the upper portionssthereof are more or less congealedgand-*thexi, subjecting the glass thus passed to a wrenching action,whereby it is separated from the receptacle.

5. The method of removing residualglass from a glass-working receptacle,which :consists in lowering a suitable perforatedmemher into saidreceptacle, soxas'tocause such residual glass to pass through the samethe form of small streams, said inemberbeingl adapted to have a chillingaction on such streams, whereby the; upper .portionsathereof are more orless congealed applying suction to the upper side of 'isaid'.inembem sozas-atotassist in. causing the glas's toipa'ss there- "throughz, and;then. Jsubj ecting; the glass thus passed to wrenehing actiomnvhseparated-from; the ,-'recep.tacle,-. 211.6. A device iforre movingglass;

erebv itis working vessels, comprisingm jmember motiableinto'fandoutof.sucha; essel, said memher be ng; formed to enter-engage ;Wlth-,-; any

residual glass in such vessel when lowered therein and adapted to have achilling action on such glass, whereby the upper portion thereof is moreor less congealed and attached to said member.

7. A device for removing glass from glass- Working vessels," comprisinga member in the form of a perforated plate movable into and out of sucha vessel, said member being adapted when lowered in said receptacle tocause any residual glass therein to-pass through the perforations insaid member in the form of small streams, and to have a chilling actionon such glass whereby the upper portions of such streams are more orless congealed and thus attached to said member.

8. A device for removing glass from glassworking vessels, comprising amember in the form of a perforated plate movable into and out of such avessel, said member being adapted when lowered in said receptacle tocause any residual glass therein to pass through the perforations insaid member in the form of small streams, and to have a chilling actiononsuch glass whereby the upper portions of such streams are more or"less congealed and thus attached to said member; and suction meansconnected with the upper side of said member sovas to assist in causingsuch glass to pass through the perforations in said member.

9. A device for removing glass from a glass containing receptacle,comprising a perforated skimmer; a hood for said skimmer; a suction fanfor said hjiiod, said skimmer being removably attached to said hood; andmeans adapted to lower said hood and skimmer into the receptacle andinto contact with any residual glass therein; and thereupon to withdrawsaid hood and skimmer, thereby wrenching the latter and its containedglass free from the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT L. FRINK.

Witnesses:

S. C. Him, H. F. MooNEY.

